When I was 17 years old, I had little-to-no plans for my future besides graduating high school. I always had a strong desire to serve my country and considered myself a patriot at heart. I knew I had to do something that would not only provide me with income, but would also provide me with real-life experience and skills that would drive my future. The choice was simple: I decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps.

Benjamin Franklin nailed it when he said, "Fatigue is the best pillow." True story, Benny. There's nothing like pushing your body so far past exhaustion that you'd willingly, even longingly, take a nap on a concrete slab.